Submarine antenna



I Aug. 4, 1936. A. LElB SUBMARINE ANTENNA 7 Filed Jan. 16, 1933 =fly4 I 12 4a,

INVENTOR y AUGUST 415/5 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES S'UBMARINE ANTENNA August Leib, Berlin, Germany, assignor to Telefunken Gesellschaft fiir Drahtlose Telegraphic m. b. H., Berlin, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application January 16, 1933, Serial No. 651,901 In Germany January 19, 1932 V Claims. (o1. 250-33) This invention relates to an antenna for submarines, which is supported by'means of a spherical buoy or float. 5

It is known in the art that communication be- 5 tween a submerged submarine and the outside world is possible by the use of a so-called buoy antenna, the part of the latter designed to pick up or to send out the electromagnetic energy being carried upward from the submerged boat into the upper strata of water carrying denser fields, or even wholly or partly above the water level, by a balloon-shaped or, spherical float or 'buoy, the assembly being pulled or hauled down when desired by meansof a cable connection and a winch. Because of the mobility of the buoy it is not customary to employ a loop or frame aerial, for the incoming volume received by such an antenna would be subject to constant fluctuations, but rather a non-directional antenna consisting of a vertical mast or an umbrella structure (see for instance, German Patent No. 466,307 and German Patent No. 305,513). However, it has been found that also this type of aerial is rather variable in its sensitiveness, especially in a rough sea because the inclination of such an antenna is then subject to undue changes,

According to this invention, a far more uniform and stable reception is realizable if upon the buoy or float a plurality of coil or loop or frame antennae, preferably two such antennae placed in vertical planes at right angles to each other rather than one linear mast-like or an umbrellashaped antenna, said two coils being adapted to be switched in and out atwill from the interior of the boat, or simultaneously justlike the re ceiver coils of a goniometer. V

This scheme offers the following-merits:

Upon rotation of the buoy about .its vertical axis, conditions will always be so that one coil of 40 the buoy antenna will come closer to the position of the maximum volume than the other or others, while at the same time it is possible to choose and connect at will from the interior of the boat the particular coil whose incoming volume at any given instant appears preferable or is maximum. Even if the coil in question should not be just in the plane corresponding to maximum volume, its receiving powers nevertheless will be far larger than that of a linear antenna, provided the numher of turns and the dimensions have been properly chosen. An open antenna would have to be of considerable height, if adequate energy is to be picked up. It would be visible'a long way off, and this is a circumstance undesirable in most cases. Another point is that the center of gravto this invention;

pity-of such a buoy antenna would be rather high, with the consequence that, if the sea be rough, appreciable swings would happen, and this would be the source of continual changes in the conditions of tuning and'the energy absorption, and 5 cause difliculties in the attempt to establish regular reception.

On the contrary, in the case of an antenna according to the invention, the visibility is low because of itscomparatively small dimensions and 10 its low location below or on the surface of the sea, and even heavy seas will occasion only little effect upon the incoming signal strength seeing that the open antenna, is far less sensitive in reception to such swings so much more so, the closer the plane of swings comes to the plane of maximum signal strength. Inthe'case of simultaneous use of the receiver coils mounted on the buoy in a goniometer circuit scheme, the rotation of the buoy about its vertical axis exercises no harmful efiect at .all so far as the incoming volume is concerned, if the explorer coil mounted inside the boat is always set tomaximum reception. 30 A better understanding of this invention will be had by referring to the drawing, of which, Fig. 1 shows'a circuit diagram of a crossed coil antenna with'a switch located within the hull of the boat so as to choose at will either coilantenna. 35

Fig. 1a shows a circuit diagram of an arrangement for the simultaneous use of both coils which is provided with field coilsand a search coil located within the hull of the'boat. Fig. 2. is an elevation of the improved new an 40 tenna arrangement of this invention. Fig. 2a. is a side elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. l of the drawing by way of example, shows a circuit arrangement of an antenna according or loop antennae mounted upon or in a buoy which bymeans of leads 3, 4 5, disposed inside a cable are united with the receiver apparatus inside the submarine, if desired, by way of a transformer I. By means of a switch 8 it is possible to 50 7 l and 2 denote here two coil 45 as cork, wood, or the like, or else it may be a hollow, evacuated 'or gas-filled body. The

shape thereof is more or less immaterial. The windings of theloop antenna may beconnected with the buoy or part thereof 'in some suitable manner (below, on, above, or laterally) though the preferable. scheme is to accommodate the windingsof the coil inside the buoy. I

Figs- 2 and. 2a, for instance, show an embodiment of the'said sort. I and 2 are protective pipes wherein the two' coils or loops placed at right angles to each other are accommodated, most suitably sealed air-, water-, and weathertight. The protective pipes (I and. 2, as known in the art, may consist either of a suitable insulator or'else of metal, optionally with non-metallic gaps. The buoy in the ,present. case is of sphericalform, and its interior 9 is filled with suitable low-weight material such as particles of cork. The outer shell l may preferably consist of a sort of. material immune from mechanical andother attacks, for example,- a braiding of cane.

metallic body'being interiorly exhausted or filled But'thefbu'oy could also consist of a with air, In this casethe metallic buoy must mostv suitablyconsist. of at least two shells in sucha'waythat'the upper onejand the lower one. are insulated from each otherand are hermetically joined by flanges. Inturn, each of these jhemi-spherical shells could consist of two 7 'or, more1.segments insulated from one another. The ascent/and the haulingdown of the antenna may be accomplished by the aid ofja wire rope designed as a cable. 1

,fFig, 1a shows another key diagram of a'further embodiment'covering' the case of the simultaneous use of the two receiving coils l and "2 supbe adapted to the turning ofthe buoy sothat at all times the incoming volume amount.

portedby the buoy. The latter are, associated by way of the'lea'ds 3, 4, and 4', 5 (of which two,

for instance, 4 andj'4 may be united) with the :field coils I and-2" mou'nted'in'side the hull of the boat, with which, in known manner; a rotatable search coil 1' is in variable inductive relation." The .positionbf thej saidcoil I may always will be of maximum It is to be noted in this connection that while this arrangement closely resembles the known' goniometer scheme, itcan nevertheless not form r such a device. The latter is intended for direction-finding. work, and the two loops for; recepe tion corresponding to loops] and Z in the drawing have a known fixed orientation in reference to the observation point or to the of the spherical floating body, means fastenedto said body, and cable connecsubmarine.

vessel. In' the buoy antenna of the kind here disclosed, on the contrary, the two receiving coils I alter their position all the time in reference to the observation point or operators room so that no direction-finding is thus feasible.

I claim: 1.A floating antenna adapted for use with a "submarine comprising :a solid spherical floating body, two crossed coils with conductive turns within a protective pipe, each of said coils being of a different diameter and located, in planes at right angles to each other and located within said mechanical securing tion means from said solid sphericalfloating body and arranged so as. to provide securing means and electricalconnection to said submarine.

,2; A floating antennazaclapted for use with a submarine, comprising a solid spherical body composed of cork, two crossed loops placed in planes at right anglesto each other and located within saidspherical body, mechanical securing means comprising an eye fastened to'said body,

and cable connection means from said solid spherical body and arranged so as to provide securing means and electrical connection to said 3.]A;iioating antenna adapted for use with a of cork, the exterior of which is covered with a submarine,jcomprising a spherical body composed braiding. of cane, two crossed loops placed in 7 planes at right anglesto each other and located within, said spherical body, mechanical securing means fastened to said body, and cable connection means from said solid spherical body ar ranged so as to provide securing means and electrical connection to said submarine.

j LA floating antenna adapted for use with a submarine comprising a'solid spherical floating body, two crossed coils with conductor turns within an insulating protective, pipe, each coil being of a different diameter and located in planes at right angles to each other. and located within said spherical floating body mechanical securing meansfastened to said body, and cable connection means from'said solid spherical body and arranged so as toprovide securing means and electrical connectionjto said submarine.

5. A floating antenna adapted for use with a submarine comprising a solid spherical floating body, two crossed coils withiconductor turns 'within'a metallic protectiveipip e with .a nonmetallio gapgeachfofsaid coils being of a different diameter andlocatedlin planes at right angles. to each other and located within said spherical floating "body, mechanical securing means fastened to said body, and cable connectionmeansfrom said solid spherical body and Tarrangedjsofas' to provide securing meansand electrical connection to said submarine.

' V AUGUST, LEIB. 

